Blades of Bond: A Test of Skill

Morning sunlight spilled through the stained-glass windows of the training hall, casting a mosaic of colorful patterns on the polished wooden floor. Aqua and Casial were desending the wide, stone stairs leading to the hall, their footsteps echoing in the quiet corridor. The faint scent of fresh dew and training oils lingered in the air. Casial, with a playful grin, turned to Aqua.

"Should we spar again, Aqua? It's a great way to sharpen our skills, don't you think?" he asked, his blue eyes gleaming with excitement.

Aqua glanced at him, his calm demeanor barely masking the competitive spark in his black eyes. "Sure, why not," he replied with a faint smile.

As they entered the grand hall, the sight of Adam already mid-practice greeted them. His sword sliced through the air with precision, the clang of sword reverberating as he struck a dummy with relentless determination. Sweat glistened on his brow under the golden rays streaming through the high windows.

"We came early, but you're earlier than us," Aqua remarked, raising an eyebrow at Adam's dedication.

Adam turned, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Discipline doesn't wait for the sun," he replied simply.

Casial chuckled. "Hi there! You really are the embodiment of discipline," he said warmly, flashing his easygoing smile.

After exchanging morning greetings, Casial leaned against a nearby pillar. "Let's up the ante today. How about a three-way sparring session?" he suggested, his tone brimming with enthusiasm.

Adam frowned in mild confusion. "Three of us? How would that work?"

Casial's eyes twinkled with mischief as he explained, "Everyone is everyone's enemy. No alliances—just pure combat."

Aqua nodded thoughtfully, intrigued by the idea, while Adam's lips curled into an approving smirk. "Sounds challenging. Let's do it."

Aqua strode towards the gleaming sword rack against the far wall, his movements deliberate. "Let's make it tougher," he said, lifting a blade from the rack. "No mana. Pure skill."

Adam and Casial exchanged glances, their interest piqued. They both agreed, sensing the unique challenge ahead. Aqua tossed a sword to Casial, who caught it deftly, while Adam tightened his grip on his own.

Positioning themselves in a triangular formation, the three prepared for battle. The atmosphere grew charged, the silence punctuated only by the faint rustle of their clothes and the creak of the wooden floorboards beneath their boots. Adam made the first move, charging at Aqua to eliminate what they both recognized as the greatest threat. But Casial, thinking the same, also lunged—only for their eyes to meet, and they retreated swiftly to avoid colliding.

Aqua stood his ground, his expression calm but alert. Adam and Casial shared a brief look of understanding, a wordless agreement to team up against Aqua. They charged simultaneously, forcing Aqua to adopt a defensive stance. Adam's blade came down in a powerful arc, but Aqua parried effortlessly. Meanwhile, Casial attempted to flank him from behind.

Aqua's sharp eyes caught the movement. Calculating his options in a split second, he executed a backflip, gracefully landing near the sword rack. Before Casial could close the gap, Aqua seized another blade, wielding dual swords with a confident smile. His movements were swift, almost a blur, as he darted towards Adam.

"Even without mana, he's this fast?" Casial murmured, his tone a mix of awe and excitement.

The clash of swords filled the hall as Aqua engaged both opponents. His twin blades moved with precision, one countering Adam's aggressive strikes while the other blocked Casial's unpredictable angles. Despite their combined efforts, Aqua's calm expression never wavered. His movements were fluid, almost dance-like, as he deflected blow after blow.

Adam and Casial, though skilled, found themselves outmatched by Aqua's sheer composure and strategy. Their strikes grew more intense, but Aqua matched their pace effortlessly. Occasionally, he would backflip to create distance, his breathing steady, before launching himself back into the fray.

The hour-long battle was exhilarating. The three of them wore smiles of pure thrill, their eyes lit with determination and respect for one another's skills. Finally, Casial raised his hand, signaling a pause.

"Let's take a breather," he suggested, his voice tinged with exhaustion.

Adam lowered his sword, a bead of sweat rolling down his cheek. "That was fun. Things were just starting to get interesting," he said, grinning.

"Interesting?" Casial replied, plopping down on the floor with his carefree demeanor. "We didn't even manage to land a single hit on Aqua!" He rummaged through his subspace artifact and pulled out three energy drinks. Passing one to each of his companions, he added, "Good thing I came prepared."

Aqua uncapped the bottle, taking a sip. "You thought ahead. That's quite thoughtful of you," he remarked, his calm tone carrying a hint of genuine appreciation.

Casial beamed at the compliment. "Of course! You shouldn't expect anything less from me," he said with a playful smirk.

Adam chuckled, raising his bottle. "These are pretty good. I might need to start carrying these around."

Aqua gave a small nod of agreement, his quiet approval speaking volumes. The three sat together, their laughter echoing in the now quiet hall, a moment of camaraderie shared after the intense sparring session.